Ordered mesoporous silicates of MCM-41 type as support of pt catalysts for the enantioselective hydrogenation of 1-phenyl-1,2-propanedione

Platinum catalysts (1 wt.%) supported on MCM-41 type and SiO2have been prepared, characterized and evaluated in the enantioselective hydrogenation of 1-phenyl-1,2-propanedione at 298 K and 20 bar of hydrogen pressure, using cinchonidine (CD) as chiral modifier. Chemisorption and TEM results revealed that both catalysts posses similar metal dispersion, however, significant differences in the catalytic behavior were observed. With dichloromethane as solvent, high hydrogenation rates and ee values around 47% were obtained for the Pt/MCM-41 catalyst. This fact is attributed to a confinement effect. The initial reaction rate is strongly dependent on the CD concentration, and the reaction rate (or ee) vsCD concentration plot exhibits bell-type curves. The main products were (R) -1-hydroxy-1-phenylpropanone and (S) -1-hydroxy-1-phenylpropanone.</o:p>